Thief of 7-Up Truck Sentenced to Prison

VAN NUYS — A 7-Up truck thief who led police on a televised chase through the San Fernando Valley was sentenced this week to three years and eight months in prison.

Municipal Judge Leslie Dunn also ordered John Edward Butner, 29, to pay $1,500 in restitution to the soft drink company for damage to the truck and a $200 fine to the county.

Butner did not address the court at the short hearing, but he did display a small message to the world: The hair on the back of his head was shaved into a 7-Up logo, Deputy Dist. Atty Carol Fisch said.

Butner was arrested Oct. 3, after taking the 15-ton delivery truck from a West Valley market and leading police on a two-hour chase. He eventually was found hiding in a tree in a Northridge apartment complex after crashing the truck.